Say It With Sequins: The Rumba: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance Novella (8 page)

“So, how does it feel to win both the final
and
the Christmas Special?” Daniel asked them at the wrap party later that night. He kissed them each in turn, lingering over Julia a little. “Congratulations,” he said, one eyebrow raised, “your rumba had one or two additions but it was the hottest, sexiest dance I’ve ever seen.” He laughed and lifted a hand in farewell. “Have a good night. Oh, and a very happy Christmas!”

Julia and Harri looked at one another and laughed too. They couldn’t help it; they’d been laughing constantly since they’d finished their rumba to a cacophony of cheers.

“So much for being discreet, though,” Julia said, in a more serious voice. She sipped her champagne thoughtfully. “I think you’ve lost any chance of working for
Red Pepper
now.”

Harri grinned at her. “You know what? I don’t really care. I’ve decided to take both the rugby and the 5 Live jobs.”

“Does this mean you won’t be flying off to Borneo to wrestle crocodiles then?”

“Don’t think
Red Pepper
ever sent me off to Borneo,” he replied and then got distracted: “Do they even
have
crocodiles there?”

Julia hit him.

“Look, I’ve told you before you’re going to have to stop doing that, you’re far more dangerous than any crocodile.” He pulled her close; to his great pleasure, she was still dressed in her rumba costume. “Do you think Roxie will let you wear that to go home in? I’m having very wicked thoughts about peeling you out of it.” He found the sensitive part of her neck and nuzzled it.

“There’s not a great deal of it to peel me out of,” Julia protested as she tried to concentrate on what he was saying. Harri kissing her neck did serious things to her equilibrium.

“Get a room, darlings,” said Lavinia as she waltzed past with Ted.

They giggled and then Julia froze.

“What’s the matter?” asked Harri in alarm.

“Roxie!”

“Julia love, I was only joking about the dress.”

“No, I don’t mean that.” Julia put a finger on Harri’s warm lips. “Stay there, just for a second, will you? Stay right there. I’ve just got to go and get something.”

Harri did as he was told and was just beginning to feel a little self-conscious, standing on his own in the middle of the room clutching a warm glass of bubbly, when Julia returned.

She had on what appeared to be an oversized red t-shirt over her rumba costume. She looked faintly ridiculous as the shirt completely covered the dress apart from the dangling sequined strips hanging below.

But Harri wasn’t thinking about Julia’s peculiar choice of outfit, he was staring at the words that were emblazoned on the front of the t-shirt in sequins. Four words in Welsh, three in English glittered for all to see.

Julia came to him and whispered, “I remembered what the words you’ve been saying to me in Welsh meant and got Roxie to sew them on for me.” She looked down and read with difficulty, “Rwyn dy garu di, Harri.” She looked up at him and smiled through her tears. “I love you.”

He caught her by the waist, too overcome to speak. Instead, he kissed her again with all the love that he had.

“Are you two
still
at it?” Lavinia’s imperious voice floated into their consciousness as she sailed by again.

Harri lifted his lips away from Julia’s and gazed into her eyes. He sighed heavily.

She cocked her head to one side and smiled, just a little uncertainly. “Haven’t you got anything to say to me?”

He gathered her closer. “Cariad bach, I’ve got a lot of things I want to say to you and I intend to spend the rest of my life doing so, but I’d like the next declaration of love to be in private.”

Harri looked at her and she thought she’d dissolve from the intensity in his dark eyes. She didn’t need words after all, his love was there, plain to see. She reached up to kiss him. “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Pizza?” he grinned with a wickedly quirked eyebrow.

“Not quite what I had in mind,” she said with a smile full of love.

He held out a hand and she took it.

End of Dance One.

And don’t miss Dance Two,

Say it with Sequins: The Waltz